INDIANAPOLIS and WINDSOR, Conn., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche Diagnostics and Protedyne, a company offering industrial robotic solutions, are bringing together their latest cutting-edge technologies for the benefit of scientists worldwide. In a collaborative effort, the two companies have integrated their technologies to provide a rapid and completely automated solution for high throughput quantitative PCR applications.

Roche's LightCycler® 480 Instrument is a 96- or 384-well, plate-based quantitative PCR instrument. Combining speed with exceptional accuracy, the LightCycler® 480 is a novel platform for gene-expression and mutation analysis. Based on innovative hardware and software, the LightCycler® 480 Instrument meets the needs of a broad range of scientific applications in genomics research. The LightCycler® 480 Instrument builds upon the sensitivity and accuracy of the well established LightCycler System, and now enables rapid high throughput quantitative PCR.

Protedyne's Radius is a new benchtop robotic system using the principles of industrial automation to offer the highest levels of flexibility, reproducibility, and process control for today's busy laboratories. Its unique radial design and vertical construction provide maximum functionality that can access areas of the bench top beyond its own footprint for simple and cost- effective device integration. The Radius system uses Protedyne's software that easily adapts to multiple protocols - and SmartTools(TM), easily interchangeable tools with built-in microprocessors that store tool calibration information and track performance data.

"We are committed to providing the most complete solution offering to our research customers. By integrating the Protedyne Radius's benchtop robotics with the speed, accuracy, and precision of Roche's LightCycler 480 Real-Time PCR system, we enable our research customers to focus more time on achieving their scientific discoveries," said Hans Fritton, Head of Program Management and Business Development for Roche Applied Science, a business area of Roche Diagnostics.

"Protedyne's Radius was a logical choice for the LightCycler 480 System as our technology provides the efficiency and throughput needed for highly- reproducible preparation across a broad range of scientific applications in genomics research," said Fran Tuttle, President and CEO of Protedyne. "By combining the two systems, we can deliver to our customers exactly the throughput they are trying to achieve."

About Roche and the Roche Diagnostics Division

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is a world leader in diagnostics, the leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. Roche employs roughly 70,000 people in 150 countries and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Roche's Diagnostics Division offers a uniquely broad product portfolio and supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories world-wide. Roche Diagnostics' North American headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Ind. (www.roche-diagnostics.us). Additionally, you can access more information about Roche at www.roche.us.

About Protedyne

Protedyne Corporation, a leading laboratory automation provider, was a pioneer and is now the acknowledged leader in bringing the industrial design for automation philosophy to genome-based drug research. Our mission is to design, build, market, and service world-class robotic solutions that dramatically improve performance in academic, drug discovery, and commercial reference laboratories. Protedyne is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, USA. For more information call +1 (860) 683-1860 or visit Protedyne on the web at www.protedyne.com.